50 States, 50 Tacos

In search of America's tastiest tacos, Food Network Magazine discovered that chefs will stuff anything into a tortilla: mac and cheese, hearts of palm, octopus. The magazine's taco team tried hundreds of tacos to come up with this list of the best in every state (and D.C. too!). Wherever you are, these picks are worth the trip.

Alexander City, Alabama

Kowaliga Restaurant

Grilled Catfish Taco

This classic Southern taco is the best reason to visit Kowaliga. Another: Hank Williams penned "Kaw-Liga" about a wooden Indian that once held court here. $5; 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd.; kowaligarestaurant.com

Cordova, Alaska

Baja Taco

Copper River Salmon Taco

The salmon here is as fresh as you can get — it's caught nearby and served on a tortilla smothered with salsa, chipotle mayo and shredded cabbage. $5.25; 1 Harbor Loop Rd.; bajatacoak.com

Tucson, Arizona

El Guero Canelo

Carne Asada Taco

Hot dogs are the specialty of the house here, but the carne asada tacos are the reason lunch lines wrap around the restaurant. You get to top them yourself with veggies, avocado crema and three kinds of salsa. $2; multiple locations; elguerocanelo.com

Little Rock, Arkansas

Local Lime

Chorizo Taco

These little winners are proof that a tiny taco can be big on flavor. They're packed with a mix of chorizo, caramelized pineapple and Jack cheese — and each one is gone in two bites. $10.50 for three; 17815 Chenal Pkwy.; locallimetaco.com

Denver, Colorado

Pinche Tacos

Pork Belly Taco

Visitors drive from several towns away to dig into this pork belly taco: a thick slice braised in orange juice and vinegar, served with candied garlic and a side of dipping jus. $3.50; two locations; tacostequilawhiskey.com

Hartford, Connecticut

Agave Grill

Spicy BBQ Pork Taco

You can order these blue corn tortillas with all sorts of fillings, but barbecue pork is the most loved. Fans say the tacos are as close to Mexican street food as you can find in Connecticut. $11 for two; 100 Allyn St.; agavect.com

DC

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

Carnitas con Salsa de Tomatillo Taco

Oyamel's team went south of the border for inspiration and came back with the key to tasty pork tacos: a 24-hour lime-and-orange-juice marinade. $4; 401 7th St. N.W.; oyamel.com

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

El Dorado Restaurant

Tacos de Pescado

Mahi mahi is called dorado in Spanish, and that's the filling of the most-popular taco here: The fish is beer-battered and topped with a mayo sauce and cabbage. $3.75; 18766 John J. Williams Hwy.; eldoradorehoboth.com

Miami Beach, Florida

Huahua's Taqueria

Fried Chicken Taco

Even past midnight, crowds form at this hot spot for the fried chicken taco with jalapeno cornbread croutons. $3.99; 1211 Lincoln Rd.; huahuastaco.com

Honolulu, Hawaii

Surf N Turf Tacos

Spicy Ahi Tempura Shrimp Taco

You wouldn't think to put sushi fillings inside a taco, but it's a smart move: Tempura shrimp and spicy tuna are even better topped with pico de gallo in a corn shell. $5; two locations; surfnturftacos.com

Chicago, Illinois

Birrieria Zaragoza

Birria

The menu proves just how much regulars love birria, slow-roasted, mole-marinated goat: It's one of the few things sold here. Place an order and you'll get a side of tortillas to build your own tacos. $10.50; 4852 S. Pulaski Rd.; 773-523-3700

Indianapolis, Indiana

La Chinita Poblana

Skirt Steak Taco

All of the dishes at this fusion taqueria are Asian-inspired, and this one is the tastiest: curry-and-citrus skirt steak topped with avocado crema and fresh herbs. $3; 927 E. Westfield Blvd.; lachinitapoblana.com

Statewide, Iowa

Tasty Tacos

Original Flour Taco

The Tasty Tacos chain has been around for 53 years, and this deep-fried beef taco — created by the owner's grandmother — has been a Hawkeye State favorite for decades. $2.95; tastytacos.com

Kansas City, Kansas

Taco Republic

Buena Terra Taco

You won't have trouble finding Taco Republic — it's in a former gas station. The popular veggie taco is an Argentinian specialty: fried hearts of palm with a mayo-ketchup sauce and avocado. $2.95; 500 County Line Rd.; eattacorepublic.com

Louisville, Kentucky

Holy Mole Taco Truck

Soft Shell Crab Taco

These aren't your everyday seafood tacos: Fried soft shell crab and kimchi are served in two steamed corn tortillas and drizzled with chipotle mayo. $5; Twitter for location: @HolyMoleTruck

New Orleans, Louisiana

Pho Bistreaux

Banh Mi Taco

This NOLA restaurant is known for its quirky multiculti mash-ups. The banh mi taco has all the fixings of a Vietnamese sandwich, but in a lighter (equally tasty) package. $5.50 for two; 1200 S. Carrollton Ave.; phobistreaux.biz

Baltimore, Maryland

Tortilleria Sinaloa

Tilapia Taco

This spot is known for its homemade tortillas — the staff cranks out thousands daily. Regulars love them even more when they're stuffed with Old Bay-seasoned tilapia. $5; 1716 Eastern Ave.; tortilleria-sinaloa.com

Somerville, Massachusetts

The Painted Burro

Short Rib Ropa Vieja "Double Stack" Taco

You don't have to pick a side in the hard-versus-soft tortilla debate: This short rib taco, stuffed with three cheeses and roasted poblano, has both. $8; 219 Elm St.; thepaintedburro.com

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Dos Hermanos Market

Pollo Rostisado Taco

The rotisserie chicken taco is a perennial bestseller at this authentic Mexican market, but you'll need to plan your visit: It's available only on weekends. $1.60; 412 W. Michigan Ave.; 734-487-8839

Minneapolis, Minnesota

World Street Kitchen

Squash and Shiitake Mushroom Taco

Even meat lovers have ordered seconds of this hearty veggie taco with pepita salsa. It's the brainchild of a former Iron Chef contestant. $6 for two; 2743 Lyndale Ave. S.; eatwsk.com

Jackson, Mississippi

Babalu Tacos & Tapas

Carne El Cerdo Taco

Locals named the menu here "Most Innovative" in the weekly paper. A case in point: this pork belly taco with citrus-chipotle barbecue sauce and peanut slaw. $8.50 for three; 622 Duling Ave.; babalums.com

Kansas City, Missouri

Port Fonda

Tacos de Ostiones

When Chef Patrick Ryan tried to get rid of his oyster tempura taco with jalapeno crema, regulars petitioned for its return. But you can get it only from March to September. $7 for two; 4141 Pennsylvania Ave.; portfondakc.com

Whitefish, Montana

Pescado Blanco

Elk Chorizo Taco

Chefs here call their food "Mountain Mexican," and this taco is a good example: crema-drizzled elk chorizo with arugula, mushrooms and caramelized onions. $12.50 for two; 235 First St.; pescadoblanco.com

Omaha, Nebraska

La Choza Restaurant

Al Pastor Taco

Many traditional pork tacos are topped with pineapple, but the fruit gets extra play at this Salvadoran joint: The pork is marinated in pineapple pieces, then put on the rotisserie to caramelize the juices. $1.75; 5133 S. 25th St.; 402-733-9554

Brooklyn, New York

Tacos El Bronco

Al Pastor Taco

Brooklyn's Sunset Park is full of great Mexican food, but locals gravitate here for flawless pork tacos served with roasted onion bulbs. The recipe comes from the owner's brother in Mexico. $1.50; 4324 4th Ave.; tacoselbronco.com

Charlotte, North Carolina

Cantina 1511

Pato Carnitas Taco

A three-step process makes the duck filling in this taco super tender: The meat is cured, slow-cooked and then lightly grilled. It's drizzled with a tangy avocado-tomatillo sauce. $4.25; two locations; cantina15eleven.com

Fargo, North Dakota

Mezzaluna

Panko Walleye Tacos

Fans of this fish taco know it's what's on top that counts: a deliciously sweet-and-spicy chili aioli. The fresh flour tortillas, made by hand at a nearby market, are a bonus. $10 for two; 309 Roberts St.; dinemezzaluna.com

Columbus, Ohio

The Coop Food Truck

Turducken Taco

This sounds like a Turkey Day special, but lucky for us, the taco — turkey, duck and chicken meat stewed in a guajillo sauce and served with pickled red cabbage — is sold spring through fall. $7 for two; coopontherun.com

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Elote Cafe & Catering

Puffy Taco

This puffy tortilla gets only a quick dip in the fryer, so it's crisp on the outside and softer on the inside — perfect for holding a hearty mix of beef or chicken, sweet potatoes and caramelized onions. $8.79 for two; 514 S. Boston

Portland, Oregon

Uno Mas Taquiza

Pulpo Taco

Ask staffers to name a favorite dish and most of them will say this chile-and-lime-seasoned octopus taco. It's a specialty of the chef's seaside hometown of Acapulco. $3.75; 2337 N.E. Glisan St.; unomastaquiza.com

Homestead, Pennsylvania

Smoke Barbeque Taqueria

Pork Taco

This spot southeast of Pittsburgh makes only 10 types of tacos, and they're all amazing. The best one: smoked pork with apricot-habanero sauce and caramelized onions. $4.75; 225 E. 8th Ave.; 412-205-3039

Providence, Rhode Island

Fugo Food Truck

Miso Glazed Tofu Taco

The owners of this food truck are Dominican and Laotian, and their beloved taco was inspired by both backgrounds: perfectly crisp fried tofu and slaw in a corn shell. $6 for two; Twitter for location: @FugoFoodTruck

Charleston, South Carolina

Cha Cha's Mexican Grill

The Warpig Taco

Pork lovers, rejoice! This flour tortilla comes with pig meat in three great forms: pork belly, braised pork and crumbled bacon. It also includes a scoop of black beans. $3.75; 1409 Folly Rd.; chachasmexicangrill.com

Lead, South Dakota

Cheyenne Crossing Store

Indian Taco

For more than 30 years, regulars have had trouble finishing this loaded fry-bread taco by themselves. Luckily, it comes in a smaller "snack size." $7–$11; 21417 US Hwy. 14A; 605-584-3510

Nashville, Tennessee

Mas Tacos Por Favor

Fried Avocado Taco

This joint took its popular fried fish taco and made it vegetarian-friendly — with fried avocado in place of fish, topped with cabbage, red onion and a spiced yogurt sauce. $3; 732 Mcferrin Ave.; eatmastacos.com

Dallas, Texas

Good 2 Go Taco

SOCO Taco

The name of this taco stands for Southern comfort, and is it ever! The oversize breakfast taco is stuffed with sausage, egg, biscuit crumbles and a peppery white gravy. $3.50; 1146 Peavy Rd.; good2gotaco.com

two locations, Utah

Taqueria 27

Grilled Pears and Roasted Beets Taco

Chef Todd Gardiner put a new spin on veggie tacos with this combo. It's like a super-delicious salad (beets, pears and gorgonzola) on a tortilla. $6 for two; taqueria27.com

three locations, Vermont

The Mad Taco

Sweet Potato Taco

You can watch chefs in the open kitchen smoke jalapenos and onions for this sweet potato-and-black bean taco. They also make more than a dozen hot sauces for the top. $8 for two; themadtaco.com

Arlington, Virginia

Fuego Cocina y Tequileria

Suadero Taco

The recipe for this slow-cooked brisket taco, topped with jalapeno and onions, comes straight from Mexico. The chef's sister serves it at her Mexico City taqueria. $7 for two; 2800 Clarendon Blvd.;fuegova.com

Seattle, Washington

Tacos Chukis

Taco Adobada

The owner recently expanded his space, but it's still packed with customers clamoring for this favorite: rotisserie pork topped with pineapple, onions, cilantro and guacamole. $1.90; 219 Broadway E.; 206-328-4447

two locations, West Virginia

Black Sheep Burrito & Brews

Trout Taco

It's not hard to find a trout taco in West Virginia — it's the state fish — but here the trout is smoked and topped with a bourbon-bacon marmalade. $4.25; blacksheepwv.com

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cempazuchi

Tacos de Tio Isreael

Fried fish is a favorite dish in Milwaukee, and here it gets a Latin twist: It's breaded in blue cornmeal and served in a corn tortilla with lime slaw and chipotle mayo. $11 for three; 1205 E. Brady St.; cempazuchi.com

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Rendezvous Bistro

Beef Tongue Tacos

The chef took a trip to Baja and came back with the idea for this winner: tongue covered in onion, cabbage, watermelon radish and pickled jalapeño on a tortilla. $9 for two; 380 S. Broadway; rendezvousbistro.net